STEVENSVILLE — The 2024 graduating class of Kent Island High school walked across the stage and turned their tassels under a beautifully sunny sky and a perfect late May Eastern Shore day. In front of a packed Buccaneer’s stadium, several representatives from the class gave parting words of advice to their classmates. Principal Daniel Harding led the remarks and introduced each of the speakers in turn.
After Harding introduced the key figures present, including the superintendent, board members, and various administrators, he emphasized the community’s role in supporting the graduates and thanked everyone involved in organizing the event. Harding finished saying, “I welcome all of you and thank you for showing your support for our graduates.” Harding then introduced Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Patricia Saelens to address the graduating class.
Although brief, Saelens remarks began with a powerful message reiterated by the other speakers. She congratulated the class of 2024 on their achievements and reflected on the challenges they overcame, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. She highlighted the diverse future plans of the graduates, including military service, workforce entry, and further education. Her closing quote to the students was impactful, as she reminded them, “Remember the tough times in high school and how you persevered.”
Next to speak was senior class President Isabel Gomez. Gomez spoke about the importance of community and support, even as graduates strive for independence. She shared a recent memory of visiting their old elementary school, emphasizing how shared experiences have shaped their journey. “Our strength truly lies in being together,” she said.
Josephine “Joe” McGrath, who will be attending the Naval Academy in Annapolis next year and was SGA president, spoke on the theme of “overcoming fear with confidence”. Admitting her fear of public speaking, she used it as a metaphor to discuss broader themes of fear and confidence. She defined fear as an emotion caused by perceived danger and discussed how people often let fear prevent them from enjoying life. She also encouraged her classmates to look back at their fears during their school years and how overcoming them led to personal growth; emphasizing the importance of choosing confidence over fear as they embark on their future endeavors. McGrath concluded with the quote from a midshipman she had met, “Choose your future based on what scares you the most because if you don’t do it, you’ll regret it one day.”
The next speaker added some levity to the morning’s remarks. Shunta Matsui, delivered a brief and humorous speech on the importance of kindness and thoughtful speech. Matsui shared a piece of advice about the value of silence when one has nothing good to say, highlighting the impact of words on others. Matsui related the often quoted: “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.” With laughter echoing through the crowd, Matsui took the opportunity to exit the stage.
Darcy Lynn, the valedictorian of the class of 2024, welcomed family, friends, faculty, and her fellow graduates. She acknowledged the significance of the day and the importance of the decisions the graduates would make about their future. Lynn emphasized that while major life decisions, like choosing a college or career path, are daunting, it is the small, everyday choices that truly define a person’s character. She stressed that these minor actions, from how one interacts with others to behaviors when no one is watching, are the true indicators of who a person is. Lynn reminded her classmates, “These actions make up who you are inside and reveal your true character.”
Lynn then paid tribute to Jacob Sloan, a classmate who had passed away when they were in seventh grade. She explained that many graduates were wearing red heart pins in his honor. Jake was known for his kindness and his habit of making others smile through small acts of generosity, like sitting with someone who was alone at lunch or making someone laugh when they were feeling down. In an emotional tribute, Lynn continued, “Jake always went out of his way to brighten someone else’s day by performing small acts of kindness.”
Jake’s lasting impact on their class, and his memory continues to inspire them to be kind and supportive of others. She encouraged her peers to carry on Jake’s legacy by making the world a better place through their everyday actions. “While Jake may not be with us today, the mark he left on many of us remains, and it is our job to carry on his kindness through our next steps in life.”
In concluding her speech, Lynn urged her classmates to consider who they wanted to be as they moved forward in life. She reminded them that small choices, such as giving a compliment or helping someone, could significantly impact others. Quoting Taylor Swift, Lynn said, “No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.”
She ended by congratulating her classmates and encouraging them to embrace their future with the same spirit of kindness and community that Jake Sloan had exemplified.
Jake’s message endures in Queen Anne’s through the foundation set up to honor him. For more information, and to see how Jake’s foundation is having a positive impact in QAC, visit www.jacobsloanfoundation.com.
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